Homemade storable box turtle food recipe

Sometimes you are on the go. Sometimes it's a tough week and you just want to drop your turtles some food. And you want it to be healthy, not just reaching for that box of kibble.

You could buy commercial canned turtle food, which can be perfectly fine; or you can spend half an hour an a lot fewer dollars, and make it yourself.

If you have a freezer, make as much as you want to store away; if you only have a refrigerator, the food will keep for a few days, so adjust the amount you make.

What you need:

  • An upright blender, food processor, or a sharp knife and the skill to mince with it
  • Small saucepan and a stove to heat it on
  • Shallow dish for the finished food, such as a 8 x 8 glass dish; or you can use a cupcake tray to make portions from the get-go (I haven't tried that yet, it occurred to me just now).
  • About half an hour of time.

Ingredients I have used to make about 12 portions for 5 box turtles.

  • Two apples
  • One banana
  • A handfull of pealed carrot pieces
  • One cup of mango (fresh or frozen)
  • Gelatine (3 packets...) ... use at the concentration indicated for gelatine cubes. (Agar and carageen are vegan alternatives.)
  • About one or a bit more cups of water

Enriching the food:

  • One tablespoon of enriched brewer's yeast (don't put more than that)
  • Three crushed and pulverized calcium pills
  • A couple of egg shells

Preparation:

  1. Put the water in saucepan and sprinkle gelatine on top
  2. Put all other ingredients into blender and finely chop up well, but NOT pureed
  3. Put chopped ingredients in dish
  4. Heat water/gelatine in saucepan until it just starts to boil (stir). Don't overheat.
  5. Pour over other ingredients, mix well, and refrigerate
  6. Wait until it's solid. Then you can divide into pieces, feed, store, and freeze.

Other ideas for ingredients:

  • Egg (cooked)
  • Ground meat (lean and COOKED)
  • Cooked freshwater fish (no bones!)
  • Oranges
  • Corn
  • Strawberries
  • Leavy green vegetables (puree those separately if your turtle are picky about veggies).
  • ...